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I will be happy to continually improve and update this list [updated once with CM Leon Kempen (AUS) added]. FIDE ratings have been taken from the Dec 2018 list. Please send any new info to: Tony.Dowden(at)usq.edu.au - Thanks

* Organiser Roger Orio advises that players from the above countries have been nominated, have entered or are expected to enter. Yes, traditionally one has entered when one had paid but given that a SWIFT/BIC number has not been provided for international transfer of funds and that cheques ('checks' in the USA) are virtually obsolete, it seems that the bar to entry into the Zonal is lower than one might normally expect (in my opinion only, this is not advice to rock up on the day and expect to enter!). For these reasons the definition of 'entry' is a broad one. Roger also suggests "most of the participants are likely to come from Guam", so in due course we can probably expect the Guam numbers to impress.

Last edited by Tony Dowden; 02-12-2018 at 09:34 AM.

Fischer visiting Tal in hospital - Curaçao 1962

"You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one." - Mikhail Tal
"Best by test" (on 1.e4) - Bobby Fischer

I will be happy to continually improve and update this list [updated once with CM Leon Kempen (AUS) added]. FIDE ratings have been taken from the Dec 2018 list. Please send any new info to: Tony.Dowden(at)usq.edu.au - Thanks

* Organiser Roger Orio advises that players from the above countries have been nominated, have entered or are expected to enter. Yes, traditionally one has entered when one had paid but given that a SWIFT/BIC number has not been provided for international transfer of funds and that cheques ('checks' in the USA) are virtually obsolete, it seems that the bar to entry into the Zonal is lower than one might normally expect (in my opinion only, this is not advice to rock up on the day and expect to enter!). For these reasons the definition of 'entry' is a broad one. Roger also suggests "most of the participants are likely to come from Guam", so in due course we can probably expect the Guam numbers to impress.

Hopefully, the nominated Players will not play each other in a round robin due to lack of numbers.
For now..it looks like Illingworth and Morris will not have any other ''opposition'' over 2050 .
If not so many entries will be received...may be it will send a clear message to the organisers . Or else, it will be Pallau/Guam open championship

Hopefully, the nominated Players will not play each other in a round robin due to lack of numbers.
For now..it looks like Illingworth and Morris will not have any other ''opposition'' over 2050 .
If not so many entries will be received...may be it will send a clear message to the organisers . Or else, it will be Pallau/Guam open championship

Most could be Filipino working there. They have brilliant players who are jobless at home.

Zionism is racism as defined by the UN, Israel by every dirty means available steals land and water, kill Palestinian freedom fighters and civilians, and operates an apartheid system to drive more Palestinians off their land

At present in the Open there could be quite a lot of not terribly highly rated players scoring 6/9 and bagging a direct FM title conditional on at some stage being/having been 2100+. Will be interesting to see if it stays that way or if the pointy end strengthens.

You are welcome KB but I'm actually only relaying info that Rogelio ('Roger') Orio from Guam is kindly feeding me.

You make an interesting observation about the possible proliferation of FM titles but I don't think that many of the current entrants are in your 'quite a lot' category. Although a number have touched 2100 in the past (Camer, Kempen, Duneas, Dowden, Spiller, Fancy, Press and maybe one or two others), it is questionable how many of these are capable of scoring 6/7 and obtaining an FM title (assuming they lose against Max and James). Moreover, another couple of entries by, say two strong 2300-ish FMs, would make it an extremely difficult ask. That said, I for one intend to give it a go!

Last edited by Tony Dowden; 09-12-2018 at 12:57 PM.

Fischer visiting Tal in hospital - Curaçao 1962

"You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one." - Mikhail Tal
"Best by test" (on 1.e4) - Bobby Fischer

You make an interesting observation about the possible proliferation of FM titles but I don't think that many of the current entrants are in your 'quite a lot' category. Although a number have touched 2100 in the past (Camer, Kempen, Duneas, Dowden, Spiller, Fancy, Press and maybe one or two others), it is questionable how many of these are capable of scoring 6/7 and obtaining an FM title (assuming they lose against Max and James).

I'm not certain they'll necessarily play both Max and James - could be a path involving getting 5/8 then winning in round 9 having played only one of them. It will be interesting to see if it works like that should the field stay broadly like it is.

Interestingly both Fancy and Press are FMs already, but unlike most low-rated FMs in Oceania, they are Olympiad-FMs rather than Zonal-FMs.